Yes-No
Yes-no questions do not have a different structure from declaratory sentences and are typically phrased as a negative. A question phrased positively rather than negatively suggests that the speaker has confidence in the answer already and is simply looking for a confirmation, or that they want the reply to be an affirmative. This is the preferred structure for rhetorical questions.
The standard answer to yes-no questions is an echo response; that is, to repeat the principal verb or sometimes the noun as either a positive or negative. This response can then be intensified by following the verb or noun with ðìtam (either positive or negative) or jìtåmèt (negative only). One can also exclaim 'nQai!' or 'nQaisa/nQaiya/nQaisha!' to express a strong disagreement, refusal, or denial.
In familiar speech, the words ðì and jè can be used as an alternative in the same manner as the English 'yes' and 'no', along with sètè, meaning approximately 'No, on the contrary' and expressing a stronger, usually positive emotion. Ðì and jè invariably indicate an agreement and denial to the presented question, respectively. Thus, a negatively phrased question answered with ðì is an affirmation of the negative, and jè a denial, ie. a positive response:
Jè kiuviyu niláv? = Do you not love her?
Ðì. = Yes, I do not.
Jè. = No, I do.
Sètè! = On the contrary, I do!
Although ðì and jè are considered very colloquial and strongly discouraged in formal language, sètè is acceptable to use in all contexts, even those where ðì or jè would be inappropriate; however, in more formal contexts, an answer of sètè is then normally followed by an echo response.
The standard answer to yes-no questions is an echo response; that is, to repeat the principal verb or sometimes the noun as either a positive or negative. This response can then be intensified by following the verb or noun with ðìtam (either positive or negative) or jìtåmèt (negative only). One can also exclaim 'nQai!' or 'nQaisa/nQaiya/nQaisha!' to express a strong disagreement, refusal, or denial.
In familiar speech, the words ðì and jè can be used as an alternative in the same manner as the English 'yes' and 'no', along with sètè, meaning approximately 'No, on the contrary' and expressing a stronger, usually positive emotion. Ðì and jè invariably indicate an agreement and denial to the presented question, respectively. Thus, a negatively phrased question answered with ðì is an affirmation of the negative, and jè a denial, ie. a positive response:
Jè kiuviyu niláv? = Do you not love her?
Ðì. = Yes, I do not.
Jè. = No, I do.
Sètè! = On the contrary, I do!
Although ðì and jè are considered very colloquial and strongly discouraged in formal language, sètè is acceptable to use in all contexts, even those where ðì or jè would be inappropriate; however, in more formal contexts, an answer of sètè is then normally followed by an echo response.
Question Words
When a question word or phrase is used, the sentence takes a different structure:
question word/phrase + time/space elements + indirect object + direct object + subject + verb + adverb
Sał tuhàsoł ncholòvìnò nìmałyiluvìké John tòtaimshu lònat? = Why is John secretly going to the mountain with his friend
tonight? (Why tonight to [the] mountain with his friend John will go secretly?)
question word/phrase + time/space elements + indirect object + direct object + subject + verb + adverb
Sał tuhàsoł ncholòvìnò nìmałyiluvìké John tòtaimshu lònat? = Why is John secretly going to the mountain with his friend
tonight? (Why tonight to [the] mountain with his friend John will go secretly?)
Tag Questions
A tag question can be formed by adding ðìtam to the end of a statement, pronounced in a rising tone and indicating a request for acknowledgement, agreement, or confirmation. This construction is unusual, however, as in most cases, a positively phrased question is preferred for expressing such a meaning.
Intonation
Questions are distinguished from declaratory sentences by a stronger emphasis and rising tone on the stressed syllable of the most important word(s) in the question. By changing the word this emphasis is placed on, one can change the meaning of the question as well.* Kaithan questions do not have a change in tone at the end of the sentence, unless the emphasized word is positioned at the end and stressed on the last syllable.
*To illustrate this change in meaning, consider the following questions and their closest equivalents in English. (The emphasized word has been underlined.)
Jè zinaimshu John tuhàsoł? = Is sleeping what John will do tonight?
Jè zinaimshu John tuhàsoł? = Is John the one who will sleep tonight?
Jè zinaimshu John tuhàsoł? = Is tonight when John will sleep?
*To illustrate this change in meaning, consider the following questions and their closest equivalents in English. (The emphasized word has been underlined.)
Jè zinaimshu John tuhàsoł? = Is sleeping what John will do tonight?
Jè zinaimshu John tuhàsoł? = Is John the one who will sleep tonight?
Jè zinaimshu John tuhàsoł? = Is tonight when John will sleep?